Month: May 2016

When moving to any new city, you try to get the lay of the land early on. Where’s the closest grocery? The local bookstore? The library branch (or three!). And since I moved here from NYC I wanted to immediately know precisely which publishers were local. Because my previous focus was children’s book publishing, I identified outposts of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and National Geographic fairly early on, alongside the small independent publisher Albert Whitman & Co and (naturally) Chicago Review Press. Adult publishers? Previously not my bag, baby. But people change. People grow. And after purchasing the adult books for the EPL system I’ve grown curious about where to find folks.

So imagine my surprise and delight when I found a publisher of books right smack dab here in Evanston. And not just any publisher either. A bee-autiful publisher! One that makes books so gorgeous and appealing you’d be crazy not to check ’em out.

Originally Agate was founded in 2002, when Doug Seibold decided to create a company that would speak specifically to business books and titles of interest to African-Americans. In fact, there’s a lovely Chicago Reader piece on Mr. Seibold and his dream found here. In time (and due to his success) the company was able to expand. Now they publish cookbooks, Chicago-centric titles, a large swath of ebooks, and in February 2017 they’ll be debuting a children’s book imprint.

These days they’re churning out some pretty darn attractive books. Curious about what they look like? Happily, Evanston Public Library owns quite a few books from Agate. If you’re interested in checking them out then we would recommend . . . .

As Publishers Weekly said of it, “You can say one thing for this collection of modern kosher recipes-it ain’t chopped liver. That fatty, flavorful favorite is replaced with fancy-schmancy fare like Artichoke Confit and Fava Bean Salad. Frankel, owner of Shallots restaurant in Chicago, deserves credit for widening the horizons of kosher cooking, as she incorporates novelties such as venison (Ginger-Marinated Venison Loin with Purple Sticky Rice and Spring Pea Salad) and bison (Bison, Lettuce and Tomato sandwiches) . . . Even without a strong hook, though, bubbe would approve, and the two million kosher households in the U.S., as the publisher figures, will likely be grateful for these new recipes.”

Both practical, insightful “real world” perspectives with the technical knowledge job seekers need in order to excel at every aspect of the job search are included in this book. A book for transition.

Prepare to drool. 50 cakes of all kinds are included in this book, including different versions of Southern classics like pineapple upside-down hummingbird pound cake and `nana pudding tiramisu cake. Family memories and photographs accompany the recipes, which are ranked from easy (“Grandbaby Cakes”) to hard (“Big Mama Cakes”). Library Journal called this one an “instant classic”.

As the description from the publisher puts it, “In 1992, Carol Moseley Braun became the first, and to this day only, African-American woman elected to the US Senate. Long before this historic victory, which Barack Obama would later say prefigured his own path to the Senate and presidency, veteran Chicago journalist Jeannie Morris saw an incredible opportunity. Here was a bold and politically courageous candidate, a feminist and sensible progressive with whom Morris quickly identified on a personal level. Morris joined the campaign to write the official story of a brilliant retail politician with a charismatic smile. Morris brings the social and political impact of Moseley Braun’s story — from her meteoric rise to her eventual downfall — into clear focus.”

By the way, if you happen to know someone who would like to be a publishing intern, Agate Publishing does have an internship program.

This Friday at 11 a.m. on the third floor our annual falcon banding and naming ceremony will take place and you’re invited to come watch.

Mary Hennen and Josh Engel from The Field Museum will band falcon chicks hatched at the Evanston Public Library Peregrine Falcon nesting site. The baby falcons (eyases) will also be named at the event which is free and open to the public. Hennen and Engel will take questions from the press and the public. Limited seating is available on a first come, first serve basis.

Falcon T-shirts are now for sale at the Main Library with beautiful original artwork by local Evanston artist Beth Adler, who recently donated a falcon painting to the library where it now hangs on the Library’s third floor.

This is the 13th consecutive year that a pair of Peregrines has nested at the Evanston Public Library.

Once on the Endangered Species list, Peregrine Falcons have made a dramatic recovery. The banding process is a critical tactic in supporting the Peregrine population. The baby falcons will be removed from the nest, brought indoors for banding, blood sampling, and viewing, then returned to the nest. While some bird species are sensitive to human disturbance at the nest, Peregrines are able to handle it. The adults exhibit defensive behaviors such as yelling and flying at the intruders, but they are willing to accept the young when they are returned to the nest.

Can’t come but like to read? Then check out some of these great peregrine falcon-related resources:

For the Adults

On the Wing: To the Edge of the Earth With the Peregrine Falcon

Where do Nona and Squawker go when they aren’t in Evanston? “Alan Tennant, a passionate observer of nature, recounts his all-out effort to radio-track the transcontinental migration of the peregrine falcon–an investigation no one before him had ever taken to such lengths.” Place the book on reserve here.

Urban Nature: Poems About Wildlife in the City

Daniel Tobin’s poem is to the peregrine falcons of NYC but that won’t make you enjoy this collection any less. Be sure to place your copy on reserve here.

Peregrine by William Bayer

Considering the fact that peregrine falcons are bloodthirsty killers (raptors tend to be) perhaps it just makes sense to put them in a murder mystery. Even better, the killer in this book “terrorizes New York with a lethal peregrine falcon.” The quickie description reads, “Circling high over Rockefeller Center is a peregrine falcon, the most awesome of the flying predators. She awaits a signal from her falconer. It is given: the bird attacks, plummeting from the sky at nearly 200 miles an hour, striking a young woman and killing her instantly. So begins Peregrine, a chilling tale of obsession.” Place the book on reserve here.

Return of the Peregrine : A North American Saga of Tenacity and Teamwork by editors Tom J. Cade and William Burnham

One review of this book began by saying, “There are few success stories in the recovery of endangered species, and the return of the peregrine falcon to North American skies is one of the best.” In this book you will find the most comprehensive history of the massive efforts to save our falcons. A beautiful coffee table book, be sure to place your copy on reserve here.

The Rites of Autumn : A Falconer’s Journey Across the American West by Dan O’Brien

Just the story of a man, his two dogs, and his young peregrine falcon. A true story, no less. This is one for you outdoorsy types. Place your copy on reserve here.

For the Kids

Skydiver: Saving the Fastest Bird in the World by Celia Godkin

Turns out, it was DDT that was significantly responsible for the downturn in the number of peregrine falcons in the wild. This book chronicles how most of the eggs laid by falcons in the past were lost. This book covers the story of how scientists brought the birds back from near extinction. Reserve a copy here.

Peregrine Falcon: Dive, Dive, Dive! by Natalie Lunis

Learn about where the peregrine falcon lives, how it hunts, and the special ways its body helps it reach its record-breaking speeds. Place it on reserve here.

This is part of the early chapter series A-Z Mysteries. The premise? “Josh and his two friends look for the person who stole a peregrine falcon from its nest.” I find this plot particularly terrifying. I mean, have you seen the claws on those babies? Place a copy on reserve here.

What’s Faster Than a Speeding Cheetah? by Robert E.Wells

You get three guesses and the first two don’t count. Put the book on reserve here.

And what falcon booklist could be complete without a little falconry on the side? In this time traveling tale, a girl is sent back to 13th-century England where she is mistaken for a Lady engaged to a local lord. Naturally she falls in love with a falconer’s son instead. Consider it Outlander for teens. Place it on reserve here.

There are distinct advantages to belonging to the Evanston Mamas Facebook group. As a still relatively new transplant (almost a year in!) I continue to explore this wild, untamed wilderness you call “Evanston”. To aid me in my research I call upon folks who know the ins, the outs, and in the in-betweens. I suspect this is what led to my discovery of The Collage Cafe and my inclination to share this discovery with others.

Before we begin, we need to make one thing very clear.

The Collage Cafe is for Grown-Ups.

Get it? Got it? Good.

The place describes itself as “part unique gift boutique, part playshop/workshop/event space and all fun“. What does that mean? Well, if you’re in the market for an original gift, this is a good place to visit.

The cool part is that it also has these fun little events on the side. For example, on Wednesdays you can take part in Casual Craftmaking. Every Wednesday (weather permitting) for any 2 hours between 1-5pm you can work on a project they have going on (vision boards, greeting cards, painted/collage stones, etc.) or bring in your own. Into crafty stuff but prefer to do it under the influence of alcohol? Coloring & Cocktails is the 4th Friday of every month between 6-8. Color, mingle, drink, and nosh.

A review in Library Journal for this title said of it, “This collection is ideal for beginners looking for no-fuss patterns that don’t require a rainbow of floss colors, or for experienced cross-stitchers seeking a quick, easy-to-finish, small project.”

52 projects, one for each week of the year, intended to encourage experimentation with new techniques and materials and to take advantage of what each season has to offer. Numerous techniques are covered, including paper craft, painting, crochet, embroidery, weaving, origami, and sewing, making this a veritable buffet of ideas.

Just in case you’ve an inclination to go Banksy on us. A collection of uncommissioned, site-specific works employing a range of art and craft techniques, including weaving, crocheting, sculpting, painting, gardening, light installation, and more.

Not a real craft book. I repeat – not a real craft book. What this actually is, is a hilarious send-up of the craft book form. If you’re easily offended, do not check it out. But if you like a good chuckle, this one’s for you.

I am the mother of a crafty child. This can be a problem since I am not a naturally crafty person myself. That is why I am grateful for this book. Parents and caregivers (like myself) looking for rainy-day projects can find a wealth of ideas in this collection-and they won’t have to make a run to the craft store for supplies.

When times get dull and I need a bit of a pick me up, I think up summer reading slogans that no one will ever use. Today’s included:

Summer Reading: Because You’re Doing It Anyway and Deserve Some Credit

Summer Reading: Because Sand in a Laptop Is No Laughing Matter

Summer Reading: Because It Looks Good On You

Surprisingly no one has taken me up on any of these slogans, but I figure there’s plenty of time.

But yes! Summer reading! Though the weather outside resembles nothing so much as a mild day in November, rumor has it that at some point in the future there will be this phenomena known as “warmth” and that during this “warmth” period people will be less inclined to pull up their duvets to their chinny chin chins at night. Or so they say.

Is it just me, or is this one of the more attractive summer reading logos you’ve ever seen?

As I may have mentioned in those slogans, you’re already reading books, right? Then get some friggin’ credit for it! Starting June 1. All Evanston kids, teens, and adults can read books, play games, attend library events, enter raffles and earn prizes all summer long. You can register online or in person at any library location. Additionally, check out the Summer Reading Guide (pdf) online or pick up a paper copy at any location. It’ll tell you everything you need to know.

But wait. There’s more.

The fact of the matter is that while these Summer Reading programs are free to all participants, we actually need some additional support to help expand the program. What do we meant by that? Well, we’re starting this new book lending project with Evanston Parks and Recreation and Ridgeville Camps to keep kids reading this summer. Want to help in some way? Contributions can be made online. Our program partners include the City of Evanston Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, and Ridgeville Park Distirct with participation by Evanston Cradle to Career and the Evanston Public Library Friends.

And why, you might ask, are we doing this in the first place? Well, chalk it all up to an insidious little situation called “summer slide”. Here’s what happens each year. The kids go to school. They read. They learn. Then summer comes along and kids stop reading. What happens as a result? They actually sink back as much as two grade levels in terms of their reading abilities. Ick. Yet reading just five books over the summer can prevent this summer learning loss. And who better to give those kids books than EPL and you?

Did I mention the theme this year? It’s “Read for the Win”. And quite frankly, it’s not a bad thing to help other folks “win”, particularly when it comes to reading.

Spring is here and if you haven’t already treated your ears to the crack of a bat or the slap of a mitt, there’s plenty of time to do so. There are also plenty of amazing brand new books about America’s favorite pastime. So for your reading pleasure, here’s a whole slew of interesting baseball books to put you in the right mood for the season.

Home Game: Big-League Stories from My Life in Baseball’s First Family by Bret Boone and Kevin Cook

The slugging second baseman for the Seattle Mariners best remembered during their epic 2001 season collaborates with author Cook on his own memoir. As it turns out, Boone was the first third-generation player in major league baseball after his grandfather Ray and father, Bob. Of course, those guys both won a World Series. Bret and his brother Aaron? They each lost a World Series. Ouch. Boone doesn’t hold back and this book discusses everything from his height to his take on steroids.

Greatness in the Shadows: Larry Doby and the Integration of the American League by Douglas M. Branson

Two books this season look at players that came just after Jackie Robinison broke the color barrier but are almost completely forgotten. Larry Doby (1923–2003) became the American League’s first black player only a couple months after Jackie Robinson entered the National League. Relatively reserved, Doby didn’t demand the spotlight and that might explain why he hasn’t gotten much recognition.

God Almighty Hisself: The Life and Legacy of Dick Allen by Mitchell Nathanson

Like Larry Doby, Dick Allen isn’t as big a name as he might be. In 1947 the Philadelphia Phillies became the last National League team to desegregate.Their first black player? Dick Allen (b. 1942) who hit frequent home runs out of the park. So why isn’t he better known? Apparently the athlete’s attitude and behavior, as portrayed in the press, produced a public image that was hard to shake. A fascinating read.

The Dodgers’ 1977-1978 seasons, both of which resulted in World Series losses, are the focus of this particular book. Remembering the triumph and heartbreak for the team’s fans in Los Angeles, the author recounts not just the games but 1970s southern California culture as well. Look for baseball segments called by Library Journal, “sharp and detailed, taking readers back to that era.”

Ahead of the Curve: Inside the Baseball Revolution by Brian Kenney

Hope you like sabermetrics, because this book is ah-swimming in them. Using statistical analysis to interpret baseball records and player performance, the author discusses pitcher wins as a category, starting and bullpen pitcher usage, and the uselessness of the bunt and batting average. It’s pretty entertaining but if the ideas of no longer classifying pitchers as “starters” or “closers,” and placing a greater emphasis on defensive stats strike fear in your heart then this is not the book for you.

The Only Rule Is It Has to Work: Our Wild Experiment Building a New Kind of Baseball Team by Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller

And speaking of statistics, in this book former Baseball Prospectus editor in chief Lindbergh teams with Miller, current Baseball Prospectus editor in chief and coauthor of Baseball Prospectus 2016, to share what happened when they convinced the owners of the independent Sonoma Stompers to allow them to handle daily operations. The experiment? To determine whether sabermetrics (there’s that word again) could create a championship team. So what happened? Better read the book.

The Baseball Whisperer: A Small-town Coach Who Shaped Big League Dreams by Michael Tackett

Since the 1960s, an amateur summer baseball team run by Merl Eberly and his wife, Pat, produced over three-dozen future major leaguers under manager Eberly. He never took a salary and many players who trained under him remained in contact with him until his death. If you need a book about the affirmative side of sports, this is the one for you.

When Prince died, a tidal wave of nostalgia swept the nation. All at once people wanted, no, needed to hear the full album of Purple Rain. To listen to something unique and entirely Prince-like. So imagine everyone’s surprise when it was discovered that sites like Spotify simply do NOT stream Price. Prince covers? Sure. But Prince himself? It just wasn’t happening.

Not our library members, though. Smart cookies would have gone to our free streaming service, Hoopla, and discovered that it is the ONLY place you can get instant Prince. All 23 of his albums are available to our patrons at all times. So when you need some Prince, but you don’t want to have to pay, just use our free app. It’s the library that has your Prince hook-up. Thanks, Hoopla.

In case you were unaware, our fledglings are hatching. As of this writing, there are three baby eyasses bouncing around the peregrine falcon nest here at Evanston Public Library. They are white, fluffy, and have a never ending pit of hunger in their bellies for sweet, delicious pigeon/bunny.

I cannot embed the video here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see them live and in person! Log onto our FalconCam for sweet baby falcon action (and some fairly gruesome feeding times). And, in case you missed it, check out our peregrine falcon reading list for all your informational needs regarding our rooftop residents.

On this date in history in 1937, the German passenger airship The Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at Naval Air Station Lakehurst in Manchester Township, New Jersey. Of the 97 people on board (36 passengers and 61 crewmen), there were 35 fatalities (13 passengers and 22 crewmen). One worker on the ground was also killed, making a total of 36 fatalities.

Not too long ago I was enjoying a recent New Yorker article entitled Helium Dreams in which reporter Jeanne Marie Laskas took note of a new generation of airships that are currently in the process of being created. While the Hindenburg disaster certainly put a crimp in any plans for airship expansion (and I was a bit disappointed to hear that the top of the Empire State Building wasn’t actually supposed to be an airship docking station as I’d so often heard). Indeed, you could be forgiven for thinking airships were effectively a thing of the past. Years ago my husband and I got readings from an old phrenology machine that would tell you by the bumps on your head what your ideal occupation might be. For my husband: Zepplin attendant. So there you go.

Yet airships may be making a comeback and they’ve always remained a part of our collective imagination. To remember the Hindenburg properly, here’s a little reading list of all things airship.

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Authors that love airships really love airship. And Kenneth Oppel is one of the best. Set in a world where airships never went away, it will forever be associated in my mind with the smell of tangerines (in this world a helium-like gas smells like tangerines when it escapes). The plot has a good description too: “Matt, a young cabin boy aboard an airship, and Kate, a wealthy young girl traveling with her chaperone, team up to search for the existence of mysterious winged creatures reportedly living hundreds of feet above the Earth’s surface.” Place your copy on reserve here.

Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon

Truth be told, I’m a little surprised this idea didn’t come to someone sooner. “Let’s do a story like The Titanic . . . on The Hindenburg!” Which on paper just sounds terrible. Yet as it happens, Lawhon crafts a rather loving homage to the great ship. As Kirkus put it in their review of the book, “As the disaster inches closer with every chapter—each begins with a countdown in days, hours, and minutes—Lawhon evokes the airborne luxury of the ship—the meals, the cocktails, the smoking room, and the service—in such detail that you end up feeling a little sad that the stately flight of the Hindenberg marked the end of passenger travel by airship forever. A clever, dramatic presentation of a tragic historical event. Suspenseful and fun.” Place your copy on reserve here.

Monsters : The Hindenburg disaster and the birth of pathological technology

by Ed Regis

In hindsight, it’s a little weird that airships full of highly flammable gas were ever thought of as a great idea. Talk about a disaster waiting to happen! In this book author Ed Regis explores the question of how a technology now so completely invalidated (and so fundamentally unsafe) ever managed to reach the high-risk level of development that it did. Through the story of the zeppelin’s development, Regis examines the perils of what he calls “pathological technologies”–inventions whose sizeable risks are routinely minimized as a result of their almost mythical allure. Place your copy on reserve here.

We interrupt this broadcast : the events that stopped our lives– : from the Hindenburg explosion to the attacks of September 11 by Joe Garner

A fair litany of disasters. Recounts the details of forty-three significant events of the twentieth century, each with from-the-scene photographs; and features two compact discs that contain over two hours of audio from the events as they were broadcast live. Place your copy on reserve here.

Celebrating Evanston’s vibrant literary community and rich history, the festival brings together more than 50 free events from May 4-14. Enjoy author talks, readings by novelists, poets, historians, and essayists, storytelling events, panel discussions on writing and publishing, storytimes for children, and a new play performance. Events are held throughout Evanston and are free and open to the public.

Interested? Then here’s a sampling of what you can expect to find at our library!

Thursday, May 5

7pm | Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Discussion Group: The Name of the WindEvanston Public Library, Third Floor Seminar Room, 1703 Orrington Ave.

Friday, May 6

4:30pm-6:30pm | Big Read Student Art Gallery Event
Middle school students from District 65 will be displaying their art pieces inspired by the Big Read companion book, Yes! We Are Latinos by Alma Flor Ada, and sharing their writing and thoughts focused on their family roots, history and journeys. All ages.Main Library, The Loft (Third Floor), 1703 Orrington Ave.

Saturday, May 7

9am-6pm | Free Comic Book Day
All Evanston Public Library Locations in partnership with Comix Revolution are celebrating awesome graphic novels and comics by giving away free comic books all day at all three of our locations! There will tons to choose from like superhero comics, the classic Archie or a short story from the new series Junior Braves of Apocalypse! Stop at the Children’s Desk, the Loft, North Branch, or the Chicago Ave./Main Street Branch to get your free comic! All ages. Comix Revolution, 606 Davis St., will also have free comics.

2pm | Literary Salon: The Art of Enthusiasm
Online gurus and children’s book evangelists Travis Jonker, Colby Sharp, and John Schumacher discuss promoting your favorite literature for kids, making the most of online resources, and spreading the culture of book love and enthusiasm amongst readers of every age.Evanston Public Library, Community Room, 1703 Orrington Ave.

4pm | The Personal and the Political in Graphic Books
The craft and stories behind writing comics memoir and comics journalism are discussed by some of the leading practitioners, Anne Elizabeth Moore, Ozge Samanci, Keiler Roberts, and Brian Cremins (moderator).Evanston Public Library, Community Room, 1703 Orrington Ave.

Sunday, May 8

3pm | #LOVESTORIES
Inspired by BLACK LIVES MATTER by Gloria Bond-Clunie, Marsha Estell and Tania Richard, #LOVESTORIES is a play in three parts exploring the breadth of love in a world of deadly conflict. Each playwright takes her turn sharing her gift of writing to tell a story of LOVE. This is a world premiere play commissioned by Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, and is presented as part of Piven Theatre Workshop’s Quality of Mercy Project. Join us for a special sneak peek!Evanston Public Library, Community Room, 1703 Orrington Ave.

Monday, May 9

7pm | Amina Gautier
Award-winning writer Amina Gautier will read selections from her latest collection of short stories, The Loss of All Lost Things.Evanston Public Library, Community Room, 1703 Orrington Ave.

Tuesday, May 10

Wednesday, May 11

5:30-7pm | Outside the Lines Book Group: The Miseducation of Cameron Post
Outside The Lines Book Club is a new teen reading series that happens monthly at the Evanston Public Library Teen Loft. One Wednesday a month, teens grades 6-12 are invited to discuss a YA fiction title. This is a safe space for teens of all identities. Come hang out, meet new friends, eat snacks and chat about what really matters to today’s teens!Evanston Public Library, The Loft (3rd floor), 1703 Orrington Ave.

7pm | Shoes of Your Choice
This storytelling event will recreate Alison Knowles classic Fluxus work Shoes of Your Choice (1963). Participants and audience members will be invited to tell the distinctive tales of the miles their footwear has walked. Knowles participated in the New York avant-garde festivals organized by Charlotte Moorman, whose life and work is featured in exhibitions at the Block Museum of Art and Northwestern University Library. This program is cosponsored by the Evanston Public Library, the Block Museum of Art, and the Northwestern University Library.Evanston Public Library, Community Room, 1703 Orrington Ave.

Saturday, May 14

1pm-4pm | The Great Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Swap
Give a book, take a book! Bring your unwanted new or gently-used science fiction and fantasy books to trade with other S/F fans, and get exclusive access to used books from the Evanston Public Library collection! For each book you bring in, you will receive one ticket to trade for another book.Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.

2pm | The Art of Alfonso “Piloto” Nieves Ruiz
Evanston sculptor Alfonso Ruiz discusses and displays his socially activist art. Copies of his exhibit catalog from the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen will be available for purchase.Evanston Public Library, Community Room, 1703 Orrington Ave.

4pm | Police Violence in the United States
Contributors to the new Truthout essay collection, Who Do You Serve, Who Do You Protect?: Police Violence and Resistance in the United States—including Kelly Hayes, Sarah Macaraeg, Page May, Maya Schenwar, and Monica Trinidad—read from the book.Evanston Public Library, Community Room, 1703 Orrington Ave.